Bossman Jack (11-4 Joint-Favourite) brought up a 190-1 Grade One double on Grand National Day for trainer Dan Skelton when landing the Turners Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half furlongs. The trainer was also successful with 50-1 chance Mirabad in the opening Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices’ Chase.
Partnered by the trainer’s brother Harry, the winner came home five and a half lengths to the good over stable companion Soldier Reeves (15-2).
Dan Skelton said: “He looked like a very good horse and the mistake at the last at Cheltenham probably cost him second, although I’m not sure we’d have beaten the winner. He’s got a big engine but a child’s brain. He didn’t jump the best on the way round, but hopefully it’s all ahead of him. He could be very good.
“Hopefully it all gets easier for him mentally and he’ll understand things a bit better and his jumping will get more reliable. He could go a long, long way. I wouldn't call him Gold Cup class as there’s a long way to go but he could be really, really good.
“I said to Tristan to really get Soldier Reeves rolling turning in.I know he’s only just turned five but he’ll stay all day. He’s a big future ahead of him too. He’s probably one who could even stay over hurdles next year.
“I’m very proud of both of them. They’ve both run really well. It’s been a remarkable day.”
As he closes in a first trainers’ championship, Skelton added: “At the start of the year I looked down the hoses we had and I thought this is a championship winning team and hopefully there’s a scattering of real good winners in there. You need the ball to bounce your way but I’m delighted with how it’s gone, and how it’s ending especially.”
Harry Skelton said: “Me and Jack Kennedy were having a chat about how bad the weather was! The hailstones were coming down. This horse ran very well at Cheltenham and he was a bit unlucky, I rode him for a lot of luck. He hadn’t been at a big day like that before and he missed the last, had he not done that I think he’d have been an awful lot closer. Today, he had a bit more experience under his belt and I rode him a bit handier and it all unfolded well.
“He’s got a great deal of ability, but he’s a long way from being the finished article. I think there’s a lot to come from him. He’s still very raw at his jumps; the last he sort of bunny-hopped. I don’t want to relive the past, but I think at Cheltenham, if he’d jumped the last he would have gone very close; he was hitting the line strong. His jumping has got to come together - I think that will take time - but all the ingredients are there to make up into a good horse one day.
“I think we’ll go and crack on now over fences. Whether it happens next year all for him over fences, that remains to be seen, because I think everything’s taking a bit of time for him to sink in and mature, but he’s we’ve always known he has a lot of ability.
“It’s brilliant and the horses are in flying form all year. I haven’t said it yet, but it looks like Willie (Mullins) will be stretched to beat us this year. If we can get to Sandown in front, to pick up that trophy was the main aim this year. It really looks now that hopefully we can’t be caught and it’s just unbelievable for all of us. It’s a brilliant team.”
Looking ahead to his Randox Grand National ride on Panc Attack, he added: “I’m really looking forward to her, the story is a mare hasn’t won the race since 1951 but she doesn’t know that. She’s in great form and it’s the best chance we’ve ever had in a National. We’ll need a bit of luck, but she’s got a chance.”
